Yantai, Shandong: Smart Drone Inspections Conducted with Power Support

In July, Yantai’s Summer Consumption Season officially launched, featuring a host of vibrant activities—including fine wines, gourmet food, live music, intangible cultural heritage displays, home appliance promotions, AI tech shows, and drone performances. The ongoing boom of summer consumption owes much to reliable power support.

On July 17, drone inspection operations on tower lines were conducted by Sun Chenyang and his colleagues from the Transmission and Distribution Operation & Inspection Center of State Grid Yantai Penglai District Power Supply Company under scorching temperatures at the 110kV Yuxin Second Line in Penglai District.Since the start of summer, persistent heatwaves have been encountered in Yantai. Autonomous inspections on power supply lines have been carried out by State Grid Yantai Power Supply Company using intelligent drone inspection equipment to ensure the safe and stable operation of power lines during summer.

This intelligent inspection method has made the inspection work more efficient and precise.

During patrols, line inspections, infrared temperature measurements, and equipment hazard mitigation have been conducted by power inspection personnel using drones, with precise temperature readings taken on composite insulators, splice sleeves, and jumper wires.

In response to summer heat, a multi-layered protection model—drone inspections + visualized rotating patrols + manual special checks—has been adopted by State Grid Yantai Power Supply Company. Full-process automated management of drone inspection operations has been realized to ensure more accurate and efficient transmission line inspections, thus building a “tech barrier” for citizen’ electricity use. Remote intelligent monitoring has been enhanced. Changes in meteorological parameters in the local environment around transmission lines have been monitored in real time through micro-meteorological intelligent sensing devices, providing key data support for the safe operation of the power grid. Routine line inspections and infrared temperature measurements have been conducted manually. Equipment maintenance has been strengthened, and preparations for emergency repairs have been made to ensure the safe operation of the regional power grid, meet the electricity demands of social development, and guarantee a cool summer for residents.

Since the peak summer electricity supply period began, autonomous inspection tasks for 102 transmission lines have been completed by State Grid Yantai Power Supply Company, with 28 hidden dangers detected and addressed. The successful application of drone autonomous inspection technology has not only improved the quality and efficiency of inspection work but also provided strong support for the safe and stable operation of the power grid during the summer peak.（By Fran）